title: Azithromycin-induced agitation and choreoathetosis.
abstract: We report a child who developed agitation and choreoathetoid movements with azithromycin therapy on 2 separate occasions. In both instances, the symptoms resolved when the antibiotic was discontinued. By means of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, we classified this event as a probable adverse drug reaction (score of 6 points). To our knowledge, this is the first published case of azithromycin-induced agitation with choreoathetosis. Because this is a widely used medication for many common infectious conditions, including otitis media and pneumonia, this potential serious adverse reaction should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA. osmanfarooq@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.forename: Zebunnissa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Sasko D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Stojanovski
authors.forename: Howard S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Faden
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002819:Chorea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin